The first all day retreat was held July 28. Hugh
Curran led “Meaningful Work - A Zen Practice” at the Camden Library and
at the Hermitage. Work, mindfully, was done spreading gravel, pruning
walking meditation paths, scraping and painting prayer benches, and laying
out string and boards for the meditation hall.

At days end the corner pole was set in place in its
hole atop written sentiments of awareness and affirmation from the retreat
participants.

Two more all day Crossing
Borders - Creating congruity in life, work, play, and silence retreats
will occur in August:
“Gratitude” with Regina Sara Ryan on 11 Aug.; and
“Moving with Awareness” with Buck O’Herin and Lisa Newcomb on 25 Aug..

We have received donations of a Xerox machine, a desk,
books, and labor from several friends. The building of the meditation
hall will continue through the month.

Visitors from Georgia set up green tent and settle
in for a stay while looking for a place to rent. Morning meditations carry
on with panting dogs on red rug, a meowing cat newly allowed out to dooryard.
Silent humans sit on their cushions as a reassuringly still and silent
Bald Mountain sits outside Barnestown window. The side by side Buddha
and Madonna/Child Icon watch over the room.

Saskia sails from Camden harbor several times a week
giving people the chance learn the skill or to feel the gift of sailing.
Friends from away return to say hello at the bookshop/bakery pleased that
we’re still here, as are we.

These summer days are hot. We continue to ponder the
silence and solitude Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes about when he says: “The
mark of solitude is silence, as speech is the mark of community. Silence
and speech have the same inner correspondence and difference as do solitude
and community. One does not exist without the other. Right speech comes
out of silence, and right silence comes out of speech….”

Our hearts and minds hold each and all gratefully in
our learning to speak with silence, and learning to be alone with others.